Door lock mechanism



Oct. 3, 1967 c. F. KRAMER 3,345,100

DOOR LOCK MECHANISM Filed Oct. 20, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. ('Zarezzce f/z mzzzer A TTOR/VEKI ZWiL/W Oct. 3, 1967 c. F. KRAMER 3,345,100

DOOR LOCK MECHANISM Filed Oct. 20, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. f/azezzce ffazzzer 5 BY I ERA/5K Oct. 3, 1967 c. F. KRAMER 3,345,100 V DOOR' LOCK MECHANISM Filed Oct. 20, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 I N VENTOR. Clarence ffameg JwZ/%%W@ ATTORNEY Oct. 3, 1967 c. F. KRAMER ,1

DOOR LOCK MECHANISM 7 Filed 001;. 20, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 &

5 I INVENTOR.

T TOR/VEVJ United States Patent 3,345,100 DOOR LOCK MECHANISM Clarence F. Kramer, 3015 Bradway, Birmingham, Mich. 48010 Filed Oct. 20, 1965, Ser. No. 498,952 Claims. (Cl. 292-48) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A door lock mechanism having coordinated cam operated actuation and retention arms to engage a fixed keeper pin, and primary and secondary independent positioning members movable with the latch actuation and retention arms to a door latch position, the positioning arms having primary and secondary detents engageable by a latching pawl, such that upon closing the door the latching pawl cannot engage the secondary detent but must engage the primary detent. Upon accidental disengagement from the primary detent, the secondary detent is available to hold the lat-ch in closed position.

This invention relates to a door lock mechanism, and more particularly to a door lock mechanism for swinging doors, such as the doors of automobiles or other vehicle bodies.

In the design and manufacture of many structures, such as automotive vehicles or the like, where a swinging door is used for entrance and exit into the structure, it is desirable to have a door lock and latch mechanism to secure the swinging door in a closed position and in such manner that normal operation of the structure will not cause release of the door lock and latch mechanism to allow the swinging door to open at unexpected times, making the structure unsafe for the occupantstherein. It is desirable that such door lock mechanisms be simple to operate, and at the same time be safe and positive for retention of the swinging door.

Demanding safety objectives and requirements of modern vehicles require improved safety features, such as more positive latching and retention of swinging doors, as well as improvements in latch operation. At the same time, cost and efiiciency in the manufacture of such vehicles requires simplification of design and quality of manufacture within the objectives and requirements.

Many latch mechanisms have been known in the past for securing a swinging door in a vehicle or the like, such mechanisms being complicated and cumbersome affairs with numerous parts for coordination and interlocking of various elements of the latch mechanism. Many of the parts in well-known latch mechanisms must be precisely manufactured so that manufacturing clearances and tolerances do not stack up to make ineffective the latching, locking, or interlocking media. In many well-known latch mechanisms, there are primary and secondary latching positions in which the swinging door may be secured, it being intended that the secondary latching position be a safety position so that unexpected or accidental release from the first position will not permit the door to open completely. However, in closing the swinging door with such latch mechanisms, it is not uncommon for the swinging door to stop in the secondary position in the closing cycle. When this occurs, there is no safety position on which the occupant can rely, should there be an accidental or unexpected disengagement of the latching mechanism. The extent to which this problem exists is evidenced by the provision for warning media or ignition cut-out devices in the event the door is not fully closed or securely latched.

The device in which this invention is embodied comprises, generally, a door lock structure having a latching means including first and second rotatable arms engage- 3,345,100 Patented Oct. 3, 1967 able with a keeper pin or the like on the vehicle body pillar, the arms being coordinated for unison movement into and out of latching engagement with the keeper pin. Dual positioning means mounted adjacent the latching means and having locking detents formed therein are engaged by a rotatably mounted pawl member which is engageable in the primary detent when the door is in the fully closed and latched position. The secondary detent is available for unexpected or accidental release from the primary detent. At the same time, in the closing cycle of the door structure, the secondary detent is in a nonen gageable position and bypassed by the latching pawl so that positive retention in the primary detent is always accomplished. Suitable lock and actuation means are provided in the mechanism to lock the positioning means and latch means in fully latching position, to permit locking of the positioning and latch means in the closed position, and to permit keyless locking of the device from outside the vehicle structure.

Such a door lock device has fewer parts than the normally available latch mechanism, and it is unnecessary that parts be precision manufactured, since resilient means may be provided in the latch mechanism to take up manufacturing tolerances, deviations, and the like. With a fewer number of parts, and with less precision manufacture, such a latch mechanism is much more economical to manufacture and assemble, and less expensive to mount in a swinging door. Furthermore, portions of the structure may be utilized or substituted in existing door lock mechanisms without undue remodeling or cost. The structure is positive and extremely safe in its operation, since it bypasses the secondary detent in the closing cycle, but always maintains the secondary detent available to guard against accidental or unexpected opening of the swinging door. Such secondary latching bypass eliminates the need for unsafe warning media and other indicating means warning of the partially opened-door position.

These and other advantages will become more apparent from the following description and drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view with parts broken away and in section of the door lock mechanism with the parts in door-closed and unlocked position;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view of the door lock mechanism illustrated in FIGURE 1, taken along the line 2'2 of FIGURE 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view of the door lock structure illustrated in FIGURES l and 2, taken substantially along the line 33 of FIGURE 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 4 is an elevational view of a portion of the door lock structure illustrated in FIGURES 1 through 3, taken substantially along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3, and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 5 is an elevational view of the door lock structure illustrated in FIGURES 1 through 4 with the parts shown in the door latched and locked position;

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 5, showing the parts in position for keyless operation in the locking cycle;

FIGURE 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of the structure illustrated in FIGURES 1 through 6, taken along the line 77 of FIGURE 6, and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 8 is a view of a portion of the lock mechanism illustrated in FIGURES 1 through 7, illustrating the positioning means in the door-opened position;

FIGURE 9 is a view similar to FIGURE 8, illustrating the positioning means in one condition during the closing cycle;

FIGURE 10 is a view similar to FIGURES 8 and 9,

s showing the positioning means in the door-closed position;

FIGURE 11 is a view similar to FIGURES 8 through 10, showing the positioning means in the secondary detent position;

FIGURE 12 is a view of the latching means of the door lock mechanism illustrated in FIGURES 1 through 10, showing the latching means in the door-opened position;

FIGURE 13 is a view similar to FIGURE 12, showing the door latch mechanism in a partially closed position;

FIGURE 14 is a view similar to FIGURES 12 and 13, illustrating the latching means in a door-closed position;

FIGURE 15 is an elevational view of a lock structure, showing a modification of the positioning means in the door lock structure illustrated in FIGURES 1 through 14;

FIGURE 16 is a cross-sectional view of the structure shown in FIGURE 15, taken substantially along the line 1616 of FIGURE 15, and looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIGURE 17 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG- URE 3, illustrating a modification in the mounting of the positioning means in the door lock structure.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, FIGURES 1 through 4 best illustrate the general construction and mounting of the door lock assembly. A principal mounting plate, indicated generally by the numeral 10, includes a planar portion 12 which may be secured to a door panel 14 in any suitable manner, and to which is secured the general mechanism of the door lock assembly. A flange 16, extending at generally right angles to the supporting surface 12, serves as a convenient mounting place for actuation levers, as will be hereinafter more particularly described.

When in the closed position, the door lock assembly engages a keeper pin, indicated generally by the numeral 18, mounted in a pillar structure 20 formed in the body of the vehicle, and serving as a stationary latching member. Keeper pin 18 has a threaded end 22 by which the pin may be held in the pillar structure 20, as by nut 24. An enlarged cylindrical section 26 of the pin 18 receives the latching members of the door lock assembly, as will become hereinafter more apparent, and an enlarged head 28 on the inner end of the keeper pin 18 prevents lateral shifting of the door lock mechanism and disengagement from the enlarged cylindrical portion 26 in a direction axially of the keeper pin 18.

Suitably journalled in the mechanism plate 10 are upper and lower shaft members 30 and 32, respectively, which extend outwardly from the supporting surface 12 and toward the pillar structure 20 on the vehicle body. Retaining the outer ends of the shaft members 30 and 32 is a housing 34, secured to the mounting plate 10 in any suitable manner. A portion of the housing 34 is cut out, as at 36, to receive the keeper pin 18 and as will become hereinafter more apparent.

Mounted on the upper shaft 30, and between the mechanism plate 10 and the housing 34, is a latch actuation arm, indicated generally by the numeral 38. Latch actuation arm 38 is secured to a bushing 40 extending coaxially of the upper shaft 30 and separated from the upper shaft by a rubber sleeve 42 for permitting a limited amount of lateral movement of the actuation arm 38 relative to the shaft 30 to take up manufacturing deviations and tolerances. Latch actuation arm 38 includes a cam contoured detent portion 44 adapted to receive the cylindrical portion 26 of the keeper pin 18, and an extension 46 having a cam surface 48 on the side thereof opposite the keeper pin detent 44. Extension 46 extends below the axis of pin 18 to provide suitable lever length for ease in closing the door. A second extension 50 terminates in a stop surface 52, for purposes to be hereinafter more particularly described. It will become apparent that upon closing the door, the latch actuation arm 38 will engage pin 18 and will be caused thereby to rotate in a counterclockwise direction, as illustrated in FIGURE 4, from a latch-open 4 or disengaged position to a latch-engaged position, the position shown in FIGURE 4.

Secured in any suitable manner to the lower shaft 32 is a latch retention arm, indicated generally by the numeral 54. Latch retention arm 54 includes a circular keeper pin detent 56 for engaging the cylindrical portion 26 of the keeper pin 18 when in the latched position. An extension arm 58 has an inner cam surface 60 which receives the extension arm 46 and the cam surface 48 on the latch actuation arm 38. It will become apparent that as latch actuation arm 38.is rotated, the arm 46 and cam surface 48 cause rotation of the latch retention arm 54, acting through the extension arm 58 and cam surface 60. At the end of extension arm 58 on the latch retention arm 54 is a stop surface 62 which engages the stop surface 52 on the latch actuation arm extension 50 under certain conditions of operation, as will be hereinafter more particularly described.

The latch actuation arm and latch retention arm 38 and 54, respectively, are shown in FIGURE 4 to be in the latched position. The keeper pin engaging detents 44 and 56 securely engage the keeper pin 18 such that the axis of keeper pin 18 is past the axial centerline between shafts 30 and 32 for secure locking engagement. In other words, the centerline of shafts 30 and 32 passes from the left side of the axis of pin 18 to the right side, as viewed in FIGURE 4, when the door is closed and the arms 38 and 54 are rotated.

In order to tension the latch actuation means in the fully latched position for ease in operating the door lock mechanism, a resilient member, such as rubber bumper 63 may be conveniently mounted in housing 34 to be engaged by latch actuation arm 38 in its last stages of travel. Other resilient means may be provided, such as a metallic spring or the like, instead of bumper 63.

Adjacent the inner end of lower shaft 32 and mounted for rotation therewith is a primary ratchet arm, indicated generally by the numeral 64. Primary ratchet arm 64 has a primary detent 66 formed therein for purposes to become hereinafter more apparent, and a stop flange 68 extending inwardly toward the surface 12 of the plate 10. Stop flange 68 engages a resilient bumper 70, mounted in the mounting plate 10 in any suitable manner, to eliminate noise and vibration in the door-latched position.

Also mounted on the lower shaft 32, and between the primary ratchet arm 64 and the mounting plate 10, is a bushing 72 on which is rotatably mounted a secondary ratchet arm, indicated generally by the numeral 74. Secondary ratchet arm 74 rotates substantially concentric with and in planular relationship to the primary ratchet arm 64. Secondary ratchet arm 74 includes a leading surface 76 which forms a secondary or safety detent, as will become hereinafter more particularly described. A cam surface 76. A stop face 89 on the secondary ratchet arm leads from the body of the ratchet arm 74 to the detent surface 76. A stop face 80 on the secondary raachet arm '74 receives and engages the stop flange 68 formed on the primary ratchet arm 64 so that when the primary ratchet arm 64 is rotated in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURE 1, as by release of the latching mechanism, the primary ratchet arm 64 will carry with it the secondary ratchet arm 74 to either the secondary detent position against the face 76 or to the completely unlatched position. An extension 82 on the secondary ratchet arm 74 and an outwardly directed stop flange 84 at the terminus of the extension 82 engage the primary ratchet arm 64 when moving in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURE 1, to cause rotation of the two ratchet arms in the latching direction. A torsion spring 86, secured as at 88 in the primary ratchet arm and secured as it 30 in the secondary ratchet arm, biases the primary and secondary ratchet arms 64 and 74, respectively, in opposite directions; that is, the primary ratchet arm 64 is biased in a clockwise direction, as illustrated in FIGURE 1, and

the secondary ratchet arm 74 is biased in a oounterclockwise direction, as illustrated in FIGURE 1.

A second torsion spring 92, secured at one end 94 in the mounting plate and secured at the other end 96 in the lower shaft 32, biases the lower shaft in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURE 1, which direction is toward the door-unlatched position. Biasing shaft 32 in such direction assures continuou contact of the extension arm 8 of latch retention arm 54 with cam surface 48 on latch actuation arm 38. The maximum movement of latch actuation arm 38 in a door-open position is limited by the housing 34 at 35, as illustrated in FIGURE 4. Thus, the primary ratchet arm 64, the latch retention arm 54, and the latch actuation arm 38 are biased toward an open or unlatched position so that upon actuation of the door lock mechanism, the swinging door may be easily opened.

In order to retain the positioning means 6474, and the latch means 38-54 in proper latch-ing engagement, a latching pawl, indicated generally by the numeral 180, is pivotally mounted on the supporting plate 12. An annular flange 102 on the plate 12 adjacent the upper shaft 38 serves as a convenient pivotal mounting for the latching pawl 100. Latch pawl 100 includes a stop flange 104 positioned to engage the primary detent 66 or the secondary detent face 76 of the primary and secondary ratchet arms 64 or 74, respectively. A torsion spring 106, secured at end 108 in the mounting plate 10 and at end 118 on the latching pawl 100, biases the latch pawl 100 into engagement with the positioning means 64-74. An outwardly extending ar-m 112 on the latch pawl 100 extends through a slot 114 in the flange 16 of the mounting plate 10 for manual actuation thereof. A second upward extension 115 and an outward extension 116 on the latch pawl 100 will be hereinafter more particularly described.

Latching pawl 100 is pivotally actuated by means of a bell crank, indicated generally at 118, mounted on a suitable stud 120 for pivotal movement on the flange 16 of the mounting plate 10. The downwardly depending arm 122 of the bell crank 118 is attached in any suitable manner to an inside door handle which may be manually operated to cause rotation of the bell crank 118. Leg 124 of bell crank 118 engages the extension 112 of the latching pawl 188 adjacent the flange 16 of the principal mechanism plate 10. It will be apparent that counter-.

clockwise rotation of the bell crank 118, as illustrated in FIGURE 2, will cause depression of the extension 112 of the latch pawl 100 and clockwise rotation of the length pawl 100 in viewed in FIGURE 1. Such rotation disengages the stop flange 104 from the detent 66 in the primary ratchet arm 64. Upon release of the bell crank 118, the torsion spring 106 causes the latching pawl 100 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction to its position as shown in FIGURE 1, and moves the bell crank 118 to its position as shown in FIGURE 2.

Slidably and rotatably mounted in the mechanism plate 10 is a latch release lever, indicated generally by the number 126. A pivot pin 128 mounted in the plate 12 is received in a slot 130 in the lever 126, the lever being slidable laterally and rotatable vertically about the pivot pin 128. The opposite end 132 of lever 126 is secured in any suitable manner to linkage connecting the lever 126 to an outside door handle on the swinging door. Adjacent the end 132 is a guide slot 134 receiving a guide pin 136, guide slot 134 and guide pin 136 supporting and positioning the outboard end of lever 126 in sliding movement laterally, for movement into and out of locking position as well as guiding the rotating travel of lever 126 in the latch release or keyless locking operation. A stop flange 138 on the lever 126 is located adjacent the extension 116 on the latching pawl 100 in one position of the lever 126, so that actuation of the exterior door handle will cause lifting of the lever 126 and engagement of the stop flange 138 with the extension 116 on the pawl 100. Such lifting disengages the stop flange 104 of the latch pawl from the detent 66 or 76 in the positioning 6 means 67-74. A torsion spring 140 returns the lever 126 to its normal position, as shown in FIGURE 1, to permit the latching pawl to re-engage the detent in the positioning means. Lever 126 includes an upward extension arm 142 having a stop face 144 thereon for engagement with the upward extension of the latch pawl 180 for purposes to become hereinafter more apparent. Extending upwardly from the extension arm 14-2 is a flange 146 receivable in a slot 148 formed in the mechanism plate 11 to guide the movement of the lever 1 26 as it rotates relative to the pivot pin 128.

A principal locking lever, indicated generally by the numeral 158, is pivotally mounted on a pivot shaft 154 mounted in the principal plate 16. The right hand end 156 of the lever 151) extends through a slot 158 in the flange 16 of the plate 10 and is actuated by an internal locking lever 160, pivotally mounted on pivot shaft 162 in the flange 16. A bifurcated end 164 of the interior locking lever receives the extension 156 on the lever 150, and the opposite end 166 of the lever 160 is secured in any suitable manner to an interior lock button in the swinging door. It will be apparent that rotation of the lever 160 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURE 2, will lift the right hand end of the lever 150, as viewed in FIG- URE 1, to cause locking of the mechanism, as will become hereinafter more apparent. The opposite end 168 of the locking lever 150' is secured in any suitable manner to an exterior door locking device whereby actuation thereof will cause the locking lever 150 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURE 1. This is the same direction of rotation as actuation of the lever 150 by the interior locking lever 160.

Pivotally mounted on the mechanism plate 10 is a bell crank, indicated generally by the numeral 170, rotatable about a pivot shaft 172 secured in the plate portion 12. One end 174 of the bell crank is secured by a pin 176 to the principal locking lever 150. The opposite leg 178 of the bell crank 170 carries the guide pin 136 received in the slot 134 in the latch release lever 126. A snap-over torsion spring 180, secured at one end 182 in the mechanism plate surface 12 and at the other end 184 in the bell crank leg 178, biases the bell crank 170 in one of two desirable positions, as will become hereinafter more apparent. It may be seen that rotation of the bell crank 178' in a clockwise direction, by means of the principal locking lever 150, causes sliding movement of the latch release lever 126 toward the left, as viewed in FIGURE 1, to clear the stop flange 138 on latch release lever 126 from the extension 116 on the latch pawl 100 to effect a locking position. Release of the principal looking lever 150 to its position shown in FIGURE 1, as by unlocking the mechanism through either the interior lock means or the exterior lock means, causes sliding movement of the principal locking lever 126 toward the right, as viewed in FIGURE 1, so that the stop flange 138 on the latch release lever 126 is in position to engage the extension 116 on the latch pawl 100.

Referring next to FIGURE 15, a modified form of the positioning means is illustrated. A modified primary ratchet arm, indicated generally by the numeral 186, is mounted on the lower shaft 32 for rotation therewith, and contains a primary detent 188. A stop flange extends out of the plane of the ratchet arm 186 for engagement with a resilient bumper .192, and to engage the end surface of a secondary ratchet arm, indicated generally by the numeral 194. Ratchet arm 194 has a slot 196 formed therein to receive a pair of pins 198 and 200 secured in the primary ratchet arm 186. It is thus apparent that the secondary ratchet arm 194, rather than rotating concentrically with lower shaft 32, slides relative to the primary ratchet arm 186 and rotates therewith as primary ratchet arm 186 rotates with the lower shaft 32. A torsion spring 202 biases the primary and secondary ratchet arms 186 and 184, respectively, in opposite directions as previously described. a

Referring next to FIGURE 17, a modification in the mounting of the positioning means of FIGURES 1 through 4 is illustrated. The lower shaft 32 is provided with a bushing 204, the bushing 204 receiving both the primary ratchet arm 64 and the secondary ratchet arm 74. An outwardly directed flange 206 formed on the bushing 204 separates the primary and secondary ratchet arms, the bushing being so formed as to permit rotation of the primary ratchet arm 64 with the shaft 32 and to permit rotation of the secondary ratchet arm 74 concentrically with shaft 32 in planular relation to and the primary ratchet arm 64.

With reference now to FIGURES l, 5 and 6, the operation of the locking and actuation means will be described. Assuming that the parts are in the condition shown in FIGURE 1, and with the latch retention arm 54 and the latch actuation arm 38 in the position shown in FIG- UR E 4, the door will be in the closed position with the latch means engaging the keeper pin 18, and with the positioning means 64-74 so positioned that the latch pawl 100 is in engagement with the primary detent 66 in the primary ratchet arm 64. If it is desired to lock the mechanism against opening from either the interior or the exterior of the vehicle, it is only necessary to rotate the principal locking lever 150 from the position shown in FIG- URE 1 to the position shown in FIGURE 5. This may be accomplished interiorly by the interior lock lever 160, or exteriorly by rotating the principal locking lever 150 through the exterior lock linkage. In rotating principal locking lever 150', the hell crank 170 causes the latch release lever to slide toward the left, as viewed in FIG- URE l, to the locked position shown in FIGURE 5. In such position, the stop flange 138 on the latch release lever is moved out of any possible engagement with the extension 116 on the latch pawl 100. Thus, raising the latch release lever 126 from the leftward end, as viewed in FIGURES l and 5, prevents any possibility of opening the door and releasing the latch mechanism from the exterior. However, should the latching pawl 100 be activated from the interior, as by bell crank 118, the extension 115 on the latch pawl 100 will engage the stop face 144 on the latch release lever 126 to slide the latch release lever 126 toward the right, and thus rotate the principal locking lever 150 into an unlocked position. Thus, the door latch mechanism cannot be released from outside the door but can be released from inside the door, release from the inside also unlocking the door in that the principal locking lever 150 is rotated back to its unlocked position.

Referring next to FIGURES 8, 9, and 11, the operation of the positioning means 64-74 will now be described. The condition of the positioning means in FIGURE 8 indicates that the latch mechanism is in the door-open position, and the latch actuation arm 38 and latch retention arm 54 are in the condition shown in FIGURE 12. The stop flange 104 on the latch pawl 100 is engaging the cam surface 78 on the secondary ratchet arm 74. Spring 92 biases the lower shaft 32 and the primary ratchet arm 64 into the position illustrated in FIGURE 8. Upon closing the door, the latch actuation arm 38 engages the cylindrical portion of the keeper pin 18 and rotates with upper shaft 30, thus causing rotation of the latch retention arm 54 through the extension 46 and cam surfaces 48-60. At the same time, the stop flange 104 holds the secondary ratchet arm '74 in the position shown in FIGURE 8 while the primary ratchet arm 64 rotates in a counterclockwise direction until the stop flange 68 picks up the stop flange 84 on the secondary ratchet arm 74. At this time, the detent face 76 on the secondary ratchet arm 74 falls into substantial registry with the detent 66 in the primary rachet arm to cam the latch pawl stop flange 104 into the primary detent 66. The stop flange 68 on the primary ratchet arm engages the extension 82 and stop flange 84 on the secondary ratchet arm to cause the primary and secondray ratchet arms to rotate together. Stop flange 104 on the latching pawl is thus directed past the secondary or safety detent and into the primary detent 66. The rotation of the lower shaft 32 is caused by rotation of the latch actuation arm 38 as it contacts the keeper pin 18 and also causes rotation of the latch retention arm 54. Thus, the shaft 32 and the primary and secondary ratchet arms 64-74 are caused to rotate in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURES 8 through 11. At the completion of the closing cycle, the latch actuation arm 38 and latch retention arm 54 are rotated such that full engagement of the keeper pin detents 44 and 46 with the keeper pin 18 is accomplished. At this time, the latch pawl 100 is in the position shown in FIGURE 10, with the stop flange 104 engaged in the primary detent 66 in the primary ratchet arm 64. Should there be an accidental or unexpected disengagement of stop flange 104 from the primary detent 66, the latching pawl 100 must pivot slightly so that the stop flange 104 disengages from the detent 66. Such action permits rotation of the primary and secondary ratchet arms 64 and 74, as well as rotation of the latch retention arm 54 and the latch actuation arm 38. However, the secondary detent formed by the detent face 76 and the primary retention arm 64 will catch the stop flange 104 and retain the latch actuation and latch retention arms 38 and 54 in a partially open position, as illustrated in FIGURE 13. However, this position is still sufficient to retain the keeper pin 18 therebetween, and since rotation of the latch retention arm 54 is prevented by the latching pawl 100 and positioning means 64-74, further rotation of the parts are prevented. At this point, the stop face 62 on the latch retention arm 54 engages the stop face 52 on the latch actuation arm 38 to prevent further rotation of the latch actuation arm 38. This is the safety or secondary latching position of the door lock mechanism. It will thus be apparent that the positioning means 64-74 causes rotation of the latching pawl 100 along the cam surface 78 on the secondary ratchet arm 74, the rotation of the positioning means 64-74 being caused by actuation of the latch retention and latch actuation arms 54 and 38 as the door is closed and the latch arms engage the keeper pin 18.

Referring next to FIGURE 6, the keyless locking cycle is illustrated. Assuming the latch means 38-54 are in the position shown in FIGURE 12, and the positioning means 64-74 are in the position shown in FIGURE 8, the principal locking lever may be depressed either interiorly or exteriorly to the position shown in FIGURE 6. This causes the latch release lever 126 to move to the position shown in FIGURE 5, releasing any possibility of engagement of the stop flange 138 with the latch pawl 100. Upon depressing or actuating the exterior door lever, the latch release lever 126 is pivoted upwardly within the limits of solt 134, relative to the bell crank 170, thus completely disengaging from contact with the latch pawl 100 at either the extension 116 or the upwardly directed arm 115. The door may then be closed, and the latch actuation and latch retention arms 38 and 54 rotated into latching position to cause rotation of the positioning means 64-74, the latching pawl 100 at the same time being pivoted by the cam surface 78 and the stop flange 104 dropping into the primary detent 66 in the primary ratchet arm 64. Upon release of the exterior door handle, the parts will then return to the position shown in FIGURE 5 with the door latch mechanism in closed and locked position. To release the latch mechanism from this condition, it is necessary only to actuate the principal locking lever 150 from the exterior, to rotate bell crank in a counterclockwise direction and return the latch release lever to the position shown in FIGURE 1. Actuation of either the exterior door handle or the interior door handle will release the keeper pin engaging members 38 and 54 to permit opening the door.

Thus, a door lock mechanism is provided which is relatively simple to manufacture and produce, and requires neither precision manufacture of the various parts nor coordinating and interlocking members, gears, or other media. A safety catch position is provided for the door lock mechanism so that upon accidental or unexpected release from a primary locking position, a secondary latching position is available. However, upon moving the door from fully-opened to fully closed, the secondary or safety latching position is not available, and the door can only close in the primary latched position. This prevents operation of the vehicle with the door in a partially opened position.

Although numerous modifications and changes will occur to those having skill in the art, after having had reference to the foregoing description and drawings, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention by the foregoing, but by the scope of the appended claims in which,

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A latch mechanism for a swinging door adapted to coact with a fixed keeper pin and comprising:

a plate member mounted on said door;

rotatable means mounted on said plate member for rotation into and out of latching engagement with said keeper pin;

positioning means rotatably mounted on said plate member and having first and second detent means therein, said first detent means being movable relative to said second detent means, said positioning means coacting with said rotatable means for maintaining said rotatable means in selectively engaged and disengaged position, said positioning means having primary and secondary latching positions;

pawl means engageable with said first detent means for holding said positioning means in said primary position and engageable with said second detent means upon accidental disengagement from said first detent means for holding said positioning means in said secondary position, said second detent means being moved relative to said first detent means to a non-engageable position and said pawl means bypassing said second detent means and engaging said first detent means upon closing said door;

and locking means for locking said positioning means in latching position and preventing disengagement of said rotatable means from said keeper pin, said locking means being disengageable from said positioning means to permit operation thereof and rotation of said rotatable means. 2. In a latching mechanism for a swinging door adapted to coact with a fixed keeper pin: a plate member secured in said door; latching means mounted on said plate member and movable into and out of engagement with said keeper pin;

positioning means mounted on said plate member and movable with said latching means and having first and second detent mean-s formed therein;

and a manually operable pawl member pivotally mounted on said plate member and engaging said first detent means to maintain said latching means in engagement with said keeper pin, said pawl member being index-able into said secondary detent means upon accidental disengagement from said first detent means to maintain said latching means in keeper pin engagement, and said pawl member causing said second detent means to assume a nonengageable position to be prevented from indexing into said second detent means during door closing travel to the fully closed position.

3. A latch mechanism for a swinging door adapted to coact with a fixed keeper pin and comprising:

a plate member mounted on said door;

a pair of latching members mounted on said plate member and rotatable into latching engagement with said keeper pin upon closing said door;

primary and secondary ratchet arms mounted on said plate member and movable with said latching members, said ratchet arms being movable relative to each other and having primary and secondary detents formed therein;

a latching pawl mounted on said plate member and having means thereon for engaging one of said primary and secondary detents to prevent rotation of said latching means out of retaining engagement with said keeper pin;

said primary and second ratchet arms being coordinated for movement to prevent indexing said latching pawl into said secondary detent during door closing travel to the fully closed position;

and link means mounted on said plate member and engageable with said latching pawl for locking said latching pawl and said latching members in keeper pin engaging position when said door is closed.

4. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door adapted to coact with a fixed keeper pin:

a plate member secured in said door;

a pair of latching members mounted on said plate member for rotation into latching engagement with said keeper pin, said latching members having coacting mean-s thereon for coordinated movement into and out of latching engagement with said keeper pin;

a primary ratchet arm mounted on said plate member and rotatable with one of said latching members, said primary ratchet arm having detent means therein;

a secondary ratchet arm mounted on said plate member and movable relative to said primary ratchet arm and having means thereon for engagement with said primary ratchet arm for movement therewith when said means are in engagement with said primary ratchet arm, said secondary ratchet arm having detent means therein;

a manually operable latching pawl mounted on said plate member and engageable in said detent means in said primary ratchet arm when said door is in a fully closed position and engageable in said detent means in said secondary ratchet arm when said door is in a partially opened position, said latching pawl being operable to disengage from said primary and secondary ratchet arms for releasing said latching members from said keeper pin to permit opening said door;

and said primary and secondary ratchet arms being coordinated for movement to prevent indexing said latching pawl into said detent means in said secondary ratchet arm during door closing travel to the fully closed position.

5. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door adapted to coact with a fixed keeper pin:

a plate member mounted on said door;

a pair of latching arms mounted on said plate member for rotation into a latching engagement with said keeper pin when said door is in a closed position;

a primary ratchet arm mounted on said plate member and rotatable with one of said latching arms, said primary ratchet arm having a detent formed therein and a stop flange formed thereon;

a secondary ratchet arm movable relative to said primary ratchet arm and having a detent formed therein and a cam surface formed thereon, said secondary ratchet arm having portion engageable by said stop flange on said primary ratchet arm for movement therewith from a door closed to a door opened position;

a spring member secured at one end to said primary ratchet arm and secured at the other end to said secondary ratchet arm and biasing said ratchet arms in opposite directions;

and a manually operable latching pawl pivotally mounted on said plate member and receivable in said detent in said primary ratchet arm when said door is in a closed position to maintain said latching members in latching engagement with said keeper pin, said pawl being receivable in said detent in said secondary ratchet arm upon accidental disengagement from said detent in said primary ratchet arm to maintain said latching arms in keeper pin retaining position, and said pawl being engaged by said cam surface on said secondary ratchet arm upon closing travel of said door to the fully closed position to prevent indexing said pawl into said detent in said secondary ratchet arm.

6. The latch mechanism set forth in claim wherein said secondary ratchet arm is rotatably mounted on said plate member and coaxially disposed relative to said primary ratchet arm.

7. The latch mechanism set forth in claim 5 wherein said secondary ratchet arm is slidably mounted on said primary ratchet arm for sliding movement relative thereto and rotation therewith.

8. The latch mechanism set forth in claim 5 wherein said secondary ratchet arm has a slot formed therein, and pin means extending from said primary ratchet arm and received in said slot in said secondary ratchet arm and permitting sliding movement of said secondary ratchet arm relative to said primary ratchet arm.

9. In a latching mechanism for a swinging door adapted to coact with a fixed keeper pin:

a plate member secured in said door;

a latch actuation arm pivotally mounted on said plate member and having a keeper pin engaging detent and a cam surface formed thereon;

a latch retention arm pivotally mounted on said plate member having an extension arm engageable with said cam surface on latch actuation arm for rotation therewith, said latch retention arm having a keeper pin engaging detent formed therein, said keeper pin detents in both of said latch arms being engageable with said keeper pin in the fully closed position of said door;

positioning means mounted on said plate member and movable with said latch retention arm and having detent means formed therein;

and a latching pawl mounted on said plate member and receivable in said detent means in said positioning means to maintain said latch retention arm and said latch actuation arm in latching engagement with said keeper pin.

10. In a latching mechanism for a swinging door adapted to coact with a fixed keeper pin:

a plate member secured in said door;

a pivot shaft journaled in said plate member and extending therefrom;

a bushing surrounding said pivot shaft;

resilient means disposed between said bushing and said pivot shaft for providing limited lateral movement of said bushing relative to said shaft;

a latch actuation arm secured to said bushing and being rotatable therewith, said actuation arm having a keeper pin engaging detent formed therein and a cam surface formed thereon and a stop flange extending therefrom;

a latch retention arm rotatably mounted on said plate member and being disposed in substantially coplanar relationship with said latch actuation arm, said retention arm having a keeper pin engaging detent formed therein adapted to coact with said detent in said latch actuation arm to maintain said latch mechanism in engagement with said keeper pin in the closed position, said retention arm having an extension thereon engaging said cam surface on said actuation arm for positive rotation of said retention arm with said actuation arm, said extension engaging said stop flange on said actuation arm in one position of said actuation arm relative to said retention arm to prevent rotation of said actuation arm out of keeper pin engagement;

and means mounted on said plate member and operatively connected to said latch actuation arm for selectively maintaining said actuation arm and said retention arm in keeper pin engaging position to latch said door in keeper pin disengaged position to permit opening said door.

11. A latch mechanism for a swinging door having an interior side and an exterior side, said mechanism being adapted to coact with a keeper pin and comprising:

a plate member mounted in said door;

a latch actuation arm mounted on said plate member for rotation to engage said keeper pin upon closing said door and having a keeper pin engaging detent therein;

a latch retention arm secured on said plate member and having means thereon for engagement with said actuation arm for rotation with said actuation arm upon closing said door, and said retention arm having a keeper pin engaging detent therein for latching said door on said keeper pin with said latch actuation arm;

primary and secondary independent ratchet arms movably mounted on said plate member and operatively connected to said latch retention arm for movement therewith, said ratchet arms having first and second positioning detents therein;

a latching pawl pivotally mounted on said plate member and having a stop flange extending therefrom, said stop flange being received in said first positioning detent in a door closed position to maintain said latch retention arm and said latch actuation arm in latching contact with said keeper pin, said stop flange being received in said second positioning detent when accidentally disengaged from said first detent to maintain said latch actuation arm and said latch retention arm in partially open but keeper pin retaining positions, and said stop flange bypassing said second detent in moving from door open to door closed position;

a manually operable release link mounted on said plate member and engaging said latching pawl, said link being pivotable from the interior side of said door to rotate said latching pawl and disengage said stop flange from said first or said second detent and release said latch actuation arms and said latch retention arm from said keeper pin;

a manually operable latch release lever slidably and rotatably mounted on said plate member, said lever having a first stop flange engageable with said latching pawl upon actuation by door handle means on the exterior side of said door to rotate said latching pawl from engagement with said first or second detent and release said latch actuation arm and said latch retention arm from said keeper pin, said latch release lever having a second stop flange engageable with said latching pawl for sliding movement of said lever from a locked to an unlocked position of said lever when said latching pawl is rotated and when said latch mechanism is in a locked condition;

a manually operable locking lever pivotally mounted on said plate member and actuatable at one end by means interiorly of said door and actuatable at the other end by means exteriorly of said door;

and a bell crank pivotally mounted on said plate member and having one arm pivotally connected to said locking lever and another end slidably and pivotally connected to said latch release lever, said bell crank sliding said latch release lever into latching pawl locking position upon actuation by said locking lever to prevent rotation of said primary and secondary ratchet arms and keeper pin disengagement by said latch actuation and latch retention arms.

locking position upon actuation by said locking lever to prevent rotation of said latching pawl and rotation of said primary and secondary ratchet arms and keeper pin disengagement by said latch actuation and latch retention arms. 7 13. A latch mechanism for a swinging door adapted to coact with a keeper pin and comprising: a plate member mounted in said door;

member to engage said keeper pin upon closing said door and having a keeper pin engaging detent therein when accidentally disengaged from said detent in said primary ratchet arm to maintain said latchet actuation arm and said latch retention arm in partially open but keeper pin retaining positions, and said stop flange engaging said cam surface on said secondary ratchet arm for movement from a door open to a door closed position and bypassing said detent in said secondary ratchet arm, said latching pawl having a plurality of extensions formed thereon;

upper and lower shafts journaled in said plate memher and extending outwardly therefrom; and 36am Surface fonnod thereon; a latch actuation arm mounted on said upper shaft latch retention arm secured on said plate member and on one side f i plate member, i actuaand having an extonsion engaging Said Cam Surface tion arm being rotatable to engage said keeper pin on said actuation arm to be rotatably driven thereby upon l i i door and h i a keeper i p Closing Said door, Said retention arm having 15 gaging detent therein, and said actuation arm having a keeper pin engaging detent therein for latching acam u fage fo med th Said door on Said p P With Said actuation a latch retention arm secured on said lower shaft and arm; on said one side of said plate member, said retena primary ratchet arm rotatably secured on said plate i arm having an extension engaging id cam member and having a Positioning detent therein and face on said actuation arm to be rotatably driven aStop flange extending therefrom; thereby upon closing said door, and said retention Secondary ratchet arm movably mounted on Said arm having a keeper pin engaging detent therein for P1ate member and engaging Said P y ratchet latching said door on said keeper pin with said actuaarm for movement with said primary ratchet arm i from a door Closed Position to a door p g P a primary ratchet arm secured to said lower shaft and tion, Said Secondary ratchet arm having a Position" rotatable therewith, said primary ratchet arm having d tent t r n a d a Ca Surface thereon; ing a positioning detent therein and a stop flange exa latching pawl pivotally mounted on said plate memdi h f ber and having a p flange amending therefrom, a secondary ratchet arm mounted for movement rela- Said p flange being received in Said Positioning tive to said plate member and engaging said primary detent in Said p y ratchet arm in a door Closed ratchet arm for movement with said primary ratchet position to maintain said latch retention arm and arm f a d r closed position to a door opening said latch actuation arm in latching contact with position, i secondary ratchet arm having a posi Said keeper P Said p flange being received in tioning detent therein and a cam surface thereon; said positioning detent in said secondary ratchet arm a fi t pring member secured to said primary ratch t arm and to said secondary ratchet arm and biasing said ratchet arms in opposite directions;

second spring member secured to said lower shaft and to said plate member and biasing said lower shaft and said primary latching arm and said latch retention arm toward door open positions;

a latching pawl pivotally mounted on said plate member and having a stop flange extending therefrom, said stop flange being received in said positioning delatch release link pivotally mounted on Said plate tent in said primary ratchet arm in a door closed Inombel and engaging one of Said extensions on Said position to maintain said latch retention arm and latching P L Said link being pivotally p said latch actuation arm in latching contact with tuation of an interior door handle to rotate said aid keeper in, aid stop flange being received in latching P and disengage Said p flange from said positioning detent in said secondary ratchet arm said primary and secondary ratchet arms and rewhen accidentally disengaged from said detent in lease said latch actuation arms and said latch retensaid primary ratchet arm to maintain said latch action arm from engagement With said keeper p .tuation arm and said latch retention arm in partially latch release lever slidably and rotatably mounted pen but keeper pin retaining positions, and Said on said plate member, said lever having a first stop t flange engaging id cam surface on id flange engageable with a second of said extensions on ondary ratchet arm for movement from a door open said latching pawl upon actuation by an exterior door handle to rotate said latching pawl from engagement with said primary and secondary ratchet arms and release said latch actuation arm and said latch retention arm from engagement with said keeper pin, said latch release lever having a second stop flange engageable with a third of said extensions on said latching pawl for sliding said 'lever from a locked'to an unlocked position when said latching pawl is rotated and when said latch mechanism is in a locked condition;

a locking lever pivotally mounted on said plate member and actuatable at one end by means interiorly of said door and actuatable at the other end by means exteriorly of said door; and a bell crank pivotally mounted on said plate memher having one arm pivotally connected to said looking lever and another end slidably and pivotally connected to said latch release lever, said bell crank sliding said latch release lever into latching pawl to a door closed position and bypassing said detent in said secondary ratchet arm in moving from said door open to said door closed position, said latching pawl having a plurality of extensions formed thereon; spring member secured to said plate member and to said latching pawl and biasing said latching pawl into engagement with said primary and secondary ratchet arms;

latch release link pivotally mounted on said plate member and engaging one of said extensions on said latching pawl, said link being pivotable upon actuation of an interior door handle to rotate said latching pawl and disengage said stop flange from said primary and secondary ratchet arms and release said latch actuation arms and said latch retention arm from said keeper pin;

a latch release lever slidably and rotatably mounted on said plate member, said lever having a first stop flange engageable with a second of said extensions on said latching pawl upon actuation by any exterior 15 door handle to rotate said latching pawl from engagement with said primary and secondary ratchet arms and release said latch actuation arm and said latch retention arm from said keeper pin, said latch release 16 ably mounted primary positioning member, said secondary positioning member having controlled rotating movement as related to the constant rotating movement of said primary positioning member in lever having a second stop flange engageable with a the door closing action; third of said extensions on said latching pawl for manually operated latching pawl member pivotably sliding movement of said lever by said pawl from a mounted on said plate member and having means locked to an unlocked position of said lever when thereon engaging the detent means of said primary said latching pawl is rotated and when said door is positioning member to retain said rotatably mounted in a locked condition; latching members in keeper pin engagement and the a locking lever pivotally mounted on said plate memdoor in a fully closed position, said engaging means on her and actuatable at one end by means interiorly said latching pawl being engageable with said detent of said door and actuatable at the other end by m a o aid secondary positioning member upon means exteriorly of said door; accidental release of said pawl engaging means from and a bell crank pivotally mounted on said plate mem- @ngagement ith id detent ean of aid rimary bar and having one arm pivotally connected to Said positioning member to retain said rotatable latching P y locking level another end slidably and members in keeper pin engagement and the door in pivotally connected to said latch release lever, said a partially opened position, said controlled rotating bell crank sliding said latch release lever into latchmovement f i secondary positioning member ing p locking Position uP011 actuation y Said venting engagement of said latching pawl member locking Isl/6f to Prevent rotation of Said P y and with said detent means of said secondary positionsecondary ratchet arms and keeper P disengage ing member in the latch engagement action, said dement by said latch actuation and latch retention tent means on id Secondary i i i ber arms. being automatically repositioned from said engage- 14. The latch mechanism set forth in claim 13 wheremerit preventing position to Said latching pawl meniin said secondary ratchet arm is rotatably mounted on her engageable i i i di l Subsequent t said plate member and coaxially disposed relative to said the engagement f i l hi member ith primary ratchet arm. the detent means of said primary positioning member; 1'5. The latch mechanism set forth in claim 13 whereiatch reiease lever positioned h i t ll d i in said secondary ratchet arm is slidably mounted on said piannlar l i hi to id Plate member d id primary ratchet arm for sliding movement relative therelatching paw] member h i b d d of id l h to and rotation themwithrelease lever being pivotably mounted on a pin ex- 16. The latch mechanism set forth in claim 18 wherein tending perpendicularly fr id plate member d said secondary ratchet arm has a slot formed therein, the Outboard end f said latch release lever having and pin means extending from said primary ratchet arm latching l engaging means thereon i i d to and received in said slot in said secondary ratchet arm engage and release i hi l member from and Permitting Sliding movement of Said Secondary engagement with the detent means of said primary poratchet arm relative to said primary ratchet arm. Sitioning member or the detent means f i A latch mechanism for Swinging door adapted to ondary positioning member, said latch release lever coact with} fixed keeper P mounted in a body Pillar having means on the outboard end thereof for pivotand Compflslng? ably actuating said latch release lever to release said aplate member mounted on Said door; latching pawl from engagement with either of said rotatable means mounted on said plate member for ropositioning members d ff disengagement f tation into and out of engagement with Said keeper said rotatable latching means from said keeper pin, P Said rotatable means including a latch said latch release lever having a horizontally posiation arm and a latch retention arm having cam P tioned slot therein at said pin to permit lateral sliding tioning means integral therewith, said arms being movement on i i from a latching l engaging Positioned on Spaced Shaft members extending position to a position of disengagement with said stantially Perpendicular from Said P151te member latching pawl to attain a locked condition of said said latch actuation arm being pivotably mounted on latch mechanism; one of said shflft membqrs and expQsed on the outer and link and bell crank means pivotably mounted on face of the plllar of said door, said shaft member said plate member and Positioned in pianuiar relabeing secured to said plate member, said latch retionship to said plate member engaged i h id tentlon aim being mounted on and Secured to the latch release lever to laterally slide said latch release outer end of the other of said shaft member and lever and Said pawl engaging means thereon to a being exposed on the outer face of said door pillar in a rotatable planular relationship with said actuposition of disengagement or engagement with said latching pawl.

ation arm, said integral cams of each of said rotatable latching members coacting with each other to effect engagement of said latching members with said keeper pin, said other shaft member being rotat- 18. In a latching mechanism for a swinging door adapted to coact with a fixed keeper pin:

a plate member secured in said door;

latching means mounted rotatably on said plate member ably mounted in said plate member with the inner end thereof extending through said plate member; primary and secondary positioning members rotatably mounted on said plate member, each of said positioning members having detent means thereon, said primary positioning member being secured to the inner end of said other shaft extending through said plate member and being disposed rotatably in planular relationship to said plate member for selectively effecting a primary latched and fully closed door position or disengage latching means door open position, said secondary positioning member being mounted on said plate member substantially concentrically with and immediate adjacent said rotatand movable into and out of engagement with said keeper pin, said rotatable latching means including a latch actuation arm and a latch retention arm having cam means thereon, said cam means being positioned to coact with each other and with the surface of said keeper pin to control the position of said latch actuation arm and said latch retention arm and elfect retention of said keeper pin by said arms in a fully closed and latched position of said door and in a partially closed and latched position of said door, said cam surfaces on said actuation arm and said retention arm being contoured and disposed on said arms to position said arms in a receptive position as related to the indexing position of said keeper pin With the rotatable latching means in the unlatched 19. A latch mechanism for a swinging door adapted door open position; to coact with a fixed keeper pin and comprising;

primary and secondary positioning members rotat-ably a plate member mounted on said door;

mounted on said plate member, each of said posia pair of latching members mounted on said plate memtain said in board end of said latch release lever, said tioning members having detent means thereon, said ber and rotatable into latching engagement with primary positioning member being secured to and said keeper pin upon closing said door; rotatable with said latch retention arm, secondary a latching pawl pivotally mounted on said plate mempositioning member being pivotably mounted on said ber and having means thereon for engagement with plate member in rotatable planular relationship to positioning detent means; said primary positioning member, said secondary poprimary and secondary positioning members rotatably sitioning member having controlled rotating movemounted on said plate member, each of said positionment as related to the constant rate of rotation of ing members having detent means thereon, primary said primary positioning mechanism in the door clospositioning member being secured to and rotatable ing action, said primary and secondary positioning with one of said latching members, said secondary members having stop means thereon to control the positioning member being pivotably mounted on extent of rotational movement of said secondary posaid plate member substantially concentrically with sitioning member; and immediately adjacent said rotat-ably mounted primanually operable latching pawl member pivotably mary positioning member, said primary and secondmounted on said plate member and engageable with ary positioning members and said detent means theresaid detent means on said primary positioning memon being mechanically coordinated for variable pivotber to maintain said rotatable latching means in enable movement with each other and with said latchgagement with said keeper pin, said latching pawl ing pawl to prevent indexing of said latching pawl member having engaging means thereon engageable into said detent means of said secondary positionwith the detent means of the secondary positioning ing member during door closing travel to the fully member upon acidental disengagement of said enclosed and primary latched position, said mechanigaging means from said detent means on said prically coordinated positioning members automatically mary positioning member to retain the rotatable positioning said detent means of said secondary posilatching means in keeper pin engagement and the tioning member into alatching pawl engageable posidoor in a partially opened position, said latching tion immediately subsequent to the indexing of said pawl member being mechanically prevented from inlatching pawl into engagement with the detent means dexing into said detent means of said secondary poof said primary positioning member, said engagesit-ioning member during door closing travel to the able position of said detent means on said secondary primary latched and fully closed door position by tenpositioning member being available to engage each sioned frictional bearing contact of a ramp surface latching pawl should said latching pawl be accion said detent means of said secondary positioning 3 dentally disengaged from said fully closed door primember with said latching pawl; mary positioning member;

torsional tensioning means on said second-ary positionlatch release lever positioned horizontally adjacent ing member to maintain said secondary positioning to and in planular relationship to said plate member member and said detent thereon in a latching pawl and said latching pawl, said latch release lever being engageable position when said latching means and 40 pivotably mounted at the inboard end thereof on said latching pawl member are in the primary latch and plate member and having latching pawl engagement keeper pin engagement condition and the door is in means on the outboard end thereof; a fully closed position; release linkage means pivotably attached to the outbell crank means pivotably mounted on an inboard board end of said release lever and extending from flange of said plate member and positioned to enand actuatable by a latch release mechanism on the gage and release said latching pawl from engagement exterior door surface for effecting release of said With said primary and secondary positioning memlatching pawl from engagement with either of said bers; positioning members;

locking means having a latch release lever positioned and a bellcrank pivotably mounted on a flange extendhoriozntally in planular relationship to said plate ing from the inboard edge of said plate member, one member and said latching pawl member, said latch leg of said bellcrank being positioned to engage an release lever having a horizontally positioned slot extension of said latching pawl and the other leg of in the inboard end thereof, a pin extending perpensaid bellcrank being adapted to be pivotably atdicular from said plate member through said horitached to linkage means ext g from S bellzontal slot to pivotably and slidably support and recrank to latch release mechanism positioned on the inner face of said door.

20. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door adapted to coact with a fixed keeper pin:

a plate member secured in said door;

a latching pawl member pivotably mounted on said latch release lever being pivotably actuatable to disengage said latching pawl member from engagement with said detent means of said primary and secondary positioning members to release said rotatable latch ing members from keeper pin engagement, said outboard end of said latch release lever being slidably laterally outboard to a position of disengagement with said latching pawl or slidable inboard to a position of plate member and having detent means thereon;

a pair of latching members mounted on said plate member in planular relationship one with the other for rotation into and out of latching engagement with engagement with said pawl, the outboard end of said Sand keeper one of Sam} latchmg mempers bemg latch release lever being adapted to be pivotably latch retention arm havmg a hub Pomon and a keeper pin engaging detent extension and a cam conattilched to latch release linkage extendmg from extoured lever extending from said hub portion, said terfor latch release mechamsn}; detent extension being torsionally positioned by and link and bell crankmeans pivotally mounted on said Spring means to receive and engage Said keeper pin Plate member and m planular relatlonshlp thereto in the door closing cycle, the other of said latching and engaged with said latch release lever to laterally members being a latch actuation arm having a slide said latch release lever to a position of disenportion and a keeper pin engaging detent extension gagement or engagement with said latching pawl thereon and a cam contoured actuation arm extendmember. ing from said hub portion thereof, said cam con- 19 toured extension on said actuation arm being positioned to coact with said cam means on said extension lever of said retention arm to coordinate the rotation of said pair of latching members into and out pawl member with said detent means of said secondary positioning member in the latch engaging action, control of said rotating movement of said secondary positioning mechanism being attainable said secondary positioning member, said stop means controlling the extent of rotational travel of said secondary positioning member in the door closing cycle and being so positioned and coordinated with the of latching engagement with said keeper pin, said overtravel of said latching arms and the engaged latch actuation and retention arms being positioned, keeper pin in the fully closed door latching cycle that contoured and cam controlled with each other to perpositive indexing of said latching pawl detent means mit coordinated overtravel of said latching arms and into engagement with said detent means of said prithe engaged keeper pin beyond the primary fully mary positioning member is assured before said pivclosed door latching position to assure indexing of otably mounted secondary positioning member redetent means on a latching pawl rotatably mounted tract from supporting contact position with the deon said plate member into the primary positioning t t ean of aid latching pawl; mechanism of; and said latching pawl member being manually oper- Pfimaiy and secondary Positioning members rotatably able and positioned to engage said detent means of mounted on said plate member, each of said positionid primary ositioning member when said door is ing means having detent means thereon, Said P in the fully closed position, said latching pawl also y Positioning meinbnl' being secured to and eng-aging the detent means of the secondary positiontatable with said latch retention arm, said secondary ing member h th d or i i the rtially opened Positioning member being Pivotaiiy mounted on and latched position, said pivotably mounted latching said plate member in rotatable planular relationship pawl e b having horizontally disposed extensions to said primary positioning member, said secondary thereon operable to disengage said latching pawl depositioning member having controlled rotating movet means from engagement i h id primary i ment as related to the constant rate of rotation of tioning member or said secondary positioning mem- Said P y pnsiiioning mechanism in the door 610$- ber for releasing said latching members from said ing action to Prevent engagement of Said latching keeper pin engagement to permit opening of said door.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS through tensioned frictional bearing contact of a 2 77 043 ramp surface on the detent means of said secondary 2,9 7,33 19 1 Kramer 292 52 positioning member with a ram surface on said detent 3,149 365 9 /1964 Gergoe t 1 means on said latching pawl, said primary and secondary positioning members having stop means there- MARVIN CHAMPION Prlma'y Examiner on to control the extent of rotational movement of J. R. MOSES, Assistant Examiner.

3/1959 Leslie. 

1. A LATCH MECHANISM FOR A SWINGING DOOR ADAPTED TO COACT WITH A FIXED KEEPER PIN AND COMPRISING: A PLATE MEMBER MOUNTED ON SAID DOOR; ROTATABLE MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID PLATE MEMBER FOR ROTATION INTO AND OUT OF LATCHING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID KEEPER PIN; POSITIONING MEANS ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID PLATE MEMBER AND HAVING FIRST AND SECOND DETENT MEANS THEREIN, SAID FIRST DETENT MEANS BEING MOVABLE RELATIVE TO SAID SECOND DETENT MEANS, SAID POSITIONING MEANS COACTING WITH SAID ROTATABLE MEANS FOR MAINTAINING SAID ROTATABLE MEANS IN SELECTIVELY ENGAGED AND DISENGAGED POSITION, SAID POSITIONING MEANS HAVING PRIMARY AND SECONDARY LATCHING POSITIONS; PAWL MEANS ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID FIRST DETENT MEANS FOR HOLDING AND POSITIONING MEANS IN SAID PRIMARY POSITION AND ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID SECOND DETENT MEANS UPON ACCIDENTAL DISENGAGEMENT FROM SAID FIRST DENT MEANS FOR HOLDING SAID POSITIONING MEANS IN SAID SECONDARY POSITION, SAID SECOND DETENT MEANS BEING MOVED RELATIVE TO SAID FIRST DETENT MEANS TO A NON-ENGAGEABLE POSITION AND SAID PAWL MEANS BYPASSING SAID SECOND DETENT MEANS AND ENGAGING SAID FIRST DETENT MEANS UPON CLOSING SAID DOOR; AND LOCKING MEANS FOR LOCKING SAID POSITIONING MEANS IN LATCHING POSITION AND PREVENTING DISENGAGEMENT OF SAID ROTATABLE MEANS FROM SAID KEEPER PIN, SAID LOCKING MEANS BEING DISENGAGEABLE FROM SAID POSITIONING MEANS TO PERMIT OPERATION THEREOF AND ROTATION OF SAID ROTATABLE MEANS. 